Working mothers could benefit from coronavirus home flexibility

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Yes, the COVID-19 shutdown has been excruciating, but the long-term beneficiaries of this pandemic will almost certainly be women returning to the workforce, writes Kerry Parnell.

Because when it comes to the dreaded request for flexible working hours, how can employers say no? Not when the shutdown forced so many companies to embrace working from home as well as part-time hours, whether their employees wanted it or not.

In a surprise to nobody, people like working from home and according to a survey this week from Newgate Research, increasing numbers want to continue post-lockdown.

They found 34 per cent of office workers are keen to increase their working from home days.

“Australians have had a taste of flexible working hours and working from home and want more of it, says Sue Vercoe, managing director. “Savvy employers have seen that many staff are just as productive working from home and are actively considering how this will reshape workspaces.”

“I expect both women and men to be in stronger positions to ask for flexible working hours.”

Obviously, this is only good news for those with a job that can be done remotely – and if that job still exists. But it might be a small silver lining, nevertheless. Because if your employer already has people working from home, then they’re going to be somewhat stuck if they try that age-old argument that a new mum can’t.

However, senior economist Alison Pennington from the Centre for Future Work cautions women must beware they don’t end up accepting reduced hours, but actually working more, for free. “There is every risk the crisis sends women’s paid incomes backwards, while ratcheting up their unpaid hours,” she says.

Camera IconIt may sound good in theory, but there may be some downsides. Credit: istock, iStock

The culture of having to be physically in the office has prevailed so long, many managers previously could not see how it could work any other way. Staff had to be visible to be validated.

And so when a new mum asked for flexible working hours it was often refused, meaning she inevitably dropped out of the workforce, taking her skills with her. I must add this never happen to me – my boss was/is beyond brilliant – but it did to so many women I know.

And then – all of a sudden – kaboom, COVID-19 blew it up. The IT departments that had previously maintained it wasn’t possible to access your work server from home miraculously discovered it was. Meetings where people formerly flew interstate to sit in a boardroom and nod are now conducted online.

And the whole perspective of working from home with kids has altered. No longer is it the height of unprofessionalism if a child pops up in a conference call. And it doesn’t matter what consecutive hours you do if the job gets done. A mother’s warp-speed working skills are real: There’s nothing like a toddler’s naptime to focus your mind.